WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING?

This is in response to a question from one of our site followers (John W in Reno, NV). 'Global Warming' can be, in a limited sense, 'climate change'. When there is global warming there is certain to be 'climate change'. This is true regardless of the cause of the global warming whether increased or decreased sunspot activity, changes in ocean currents, or a blanket of dust in the air caused by the collision of a comet with Earth. In the case of the Medieval Warm Period we cannot blame auto emissions nor the industrial age for the warming. However, when there is 'global cooling' there is also 'climate change' although with different effects. Extremes are seen in the effects of the last Ice Age (ending around 12,000 BC) as well as the 'Little Ice Age' in the 1600s through the late 1800s. However, these are only two of the causes of 'climate change'. Changes in ocean currents may not cause either global warming nor global cooling but will change the climate on either side of the former path of the ocean current as well as along either side of its new path. The Gulf Stream (by way of illustration and not by way of limitation) stopped flowing around 2004 AD. It simply stopped. After several days it started again. This stream of warm water affects weather or climate from the tip of Florida, along its Eastern shore, the shores of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and then over to England, Ireland and Scotland and even some portions of the Netherlands. If this current had stopped for a longer period of time it would have caused significant cooling over the formerly British Isles. Maybe even have given that area an ice age like feel. Along the Eastern seaboard states mentioned it could have caused severe droughts, affecting food supplies. Fish migration patterns would have changed again affecting food supplies. There might also be benefits. Hurricanes moving up the coast would no longer have its warm waters as a 'heat engine' and the storms would die while still in the tropics. The storms might change to severe Nor' Easters but the East coast would be spared hurricanes. The reader had an excellent question and one which illustrates many of the criticisms rambled on about in this blog. Therefore, I shall give you another definition as obviously adopted by extreme left wing greens. 'Global Warming' is when there is strong scientific evidence of a general trend of warming air temperatures around the globe. 'Climate Change' is when there is insufficient evidence that the air is warming, and caught in their lies and misrepresentations, extreme left wing greens and their intellectually challenged and gullible followers need another name for their movement, thus coining a less inflammatory and more nebulous phrase, i.e. 'climate change'. It is an attempt to gracefully exit the debate without admitting they were simply wrong. It also reflects their lack of a scientific cause of the alleged warming.